Airport opening hits air pocket30 Mar 2008, 0517 hrs IST, Anshul Dhamija, TNN BANGALORE: Polls could be the spoiler this time. As the Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli dresses itself up for the revised inauguration date of May 11, uncertainty hangs threateningly low. With assembly elections likely to be held in May, the code of conduct for political parties could …

Govt wants it to charge only international passengers initially, on the lines of the new Hyderabad airport Tarun ShuklaNew Delhi http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/27005013/Ministry-new-Bangalore-airpor.html The operator of the Bengaluru International Airport, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has declined a suggestion from the ministry of civil aviation that it waive a controversial fee it plans to levy on passengers when it opens for operations …

“At London Heathrow Terminal 5 we’ve created a natural, logical journey that’s so calm, you’ll flow through. It should only take ten minutes to get from check-in to departures” This is the promise British Airways makes about the new super large, super luxurious, $8.6 billion Terminal 5 or T5, at London Heathrow airport. Capable of handling 30 million passengers, this …

In The Times of India, Bangalore, on Tuesday, March 25, 2007, page 22 featured an article by Mr. Albert Brunner, CEO of BIAL. In response to the challenge issued at the end of the article I put forth my own list to debunk certain myths created by BIAL. I have sent this response to The Times of India. Hopefully the …

A hearty congratulations to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Hyderabad for finally getting operational. Similar congratulations are due to BIAL very soon. An even heartier and resounding congratulations to the domestic airlines, for showing to RGIA management, what we individual consumers will be unable to — even a monopolistic airport cannot expect to charge unreasonable fees. The ground handling …

Date:24/03/2008 http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032450560600.htm Madhumathi D.S. Bangalore operator likely to steal the thunder Neck-and-neck BIAL expects traffic of least 11 million passengers the first year, while Hyderabad expects 7 million Cargo movement at Bangalore is 1.25 lakh tonnes, almost thrice Hyderabad’s 43,000 tonnes. The two new international airports could well be another hare-and-tortoise story. The GMR consortium-built Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) …

17 Mar, 2008, 0600 hrs IST, Nirbhay Kumar, TNNhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/New_user_fee_for_domestic_fliers_grounded_at_Rs_200/articleshow/2872347.cms NEW DELHI: In a major relief to domestic passengers, the civil aviation ministry has told developers of the new international airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore to restrict user development fee (UDF) to Rs 200 instead of the initially-proposed amounts that were three times higher. However, the ministry is open to the …

18-Mar-2008 http://indiaaviation.aero/news/airline/8181/59/Bangalore-International-Airport-Ltd-(BIAL)-will-not-follow-a-cross-subsidization-tariff-policy According to Banglore HAL International Airport, the new Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) is likely to spare domestic passengers from the user development fee (UDF). In recent days GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd’s (GHIAL) made its decision to charge $25 (about Rs 1,000) as UDF on international passengers from the new airport at Shamshabad, which is scheduled to …

One March 19th, I received this comment on one of my posts. It deserves posting on the blog. Thanks to the commenter. There is more than enough commerce in Bangalore to support another airport. Speeding up travel of people and products only improves an economy. The market place, consumers and producers, determine usage. Government can implement rules of conduct (procedures) …

Aircraft parking requests flood HALBy Rasheed Kappan, DH News Service, Bangalore: http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Mar202008/state2008032058473.asp Bangalore’s HAL Airport will allot parking spaces for at least 40 to 50 business jets within a year. But amidst a sudden flood of parking requests from corporates across the country, Airport officials are worried about giving a firm long-term commitment. Reason: Unscheduled landings and take-offs of such …

Doubts over air safety at Devanahalli airport V. Sridhar http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032057410600.htm Bangalore: For an airport that was to commence operations in March, now postponed to May, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility ought to have been up and running. Instead, on a mid-March morning, just six weeks away from the date of commissioning of the airport, chaos reigns at the ATC …

Many readers have been posting very thoughtful and eloquent comments on my blog. Thank you. I use part of a comment from one – “If consumers of airport services do not find the airport a convenient and profitable place to do business, it will not be used.”Feedback Business Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd., did a survey of about 1,150 passengers at …

Air travel in India has boomed due to the introduction of low cost airlines (LCCs) which have opened air travel to the masses. Their air fares are highly competitive with the upper classes of train fares. Even United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi said, “air travel was not elitist any more“, when inaugurating the new airport at Hyderabad. Despite this …

Sunday March 16 2008 00:42 ISThttp://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEC20080315151623&eTitle=Columns&rLink=0TJS GEORGE A FRIGHTENING fact about the Bangalore International Airport is now out in the open – that it was going to start regular flights without crucial air traffic control arrangements at the ready. ATC experts had told a newspaper that operations before specialist personnel and calibrated equipment were fully trained and tested would be …

Both the Governments (of India and of Karnataka) face a dilemma — while they realise that there is sound logic, to keeping HAL airport open along with the new Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), they face a intransigent BIAL consortium, who appears hell bent on enforcing the terms of their Concession Agreement. We should also try and understand BIAL’s perspective. They …

Bangalore to beat passenger traffic forecast from day one EXISTING BANGALORE, HYDERABAD AIRPORTS: TO BE OR NOT TO BE BS Reporter / Bangalore March 6, 2008‘Growing demand can keep both new and existing airports fully occupied.’ The new Bangalore international airport, scheduled to start flight operations from March 30, will far exceed its passenger traffic forecast from the very first …

While I was very much looking forward to the launch of the new Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), I think the Ministry of Civil Aviation took a very pragmatic and realistic step by delaying the launch. I can understand the frustrations of the BIAL consortium, but let us face facts. The CNS-ATM system would not be erected and properly commissioned in …

Political cloud over take-off14 Mar 2008, 0110 hrs IST,Anil Kumar M & Anshul Dhamija, TNN BANGALORE: There is a strong political hand overlooking the opening of Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). The Centre, on Thursday, officially communicated to Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) that it should consider an opening date after May 10 – which coincides with the planned state elections. …

HAL, BIAL wage war over airportAnshul Dhamija | TNNMarch 04, 2008 Bangalore: Should HAL airport be closed? That simple question evoked a major war of words on Tuesday between representatives of HAL, Bangalore International Airport Ltd and industry leaders at a seminar organized by the Centre for Public Policy of the IIM-B. And the battle lasted for almost three hours. …